CO-HOSTS Mexico made a strong start to their 2026 World Cup campaign as they defeated nine-man South Africa at a packed Azteca Stadium in the tournament opener.
Three players were sent off in all, with Mexico reduced to 10 men in the closing moments.
Mexico had only needed nine minutes before they delighted their fans with the first goal of the finals.
South Africa midfielder Yaya Sithole was tackled by Erik Lira and the ball dropped to Julian Quinones whose powerful strike went though the legs of goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.
Quinones almost made it 2-0 just before half-time, but his 12-yard first-time shot bounced off the foot of the right post.
The hosts’ task became much easier when Sithole was sent off five minutes into the second half, bringing down Brian Gutierrez when he was going through on goal.
Striker Raul Jimenez, 35, sealed the victory with his first goal at a World Cup, heading in powerfully from Roberto Alvarado’s cross for Mexico’s second.
South Africa were playing in the finals for the first time since they hosted the 2010 competition, but they ended with nine men as substitute Themba Zwane was sent off for slapping the face of Alvarado.
Seventeen-year-old Mexico midfielder, Gilberto Mora, the youngest player in this tournament, became the second youngest to appear in a finals, behind only Brazil great Pele, who played in the 1958 competition when he was also 17.
Mexico had a red card of their own late on, when Cesar Montes fouled Khuliso Mudau, but the hosts maintained their two-goal advantage.
This is the first time a team has received two red cards in a World Cup match since Portugal and Netherlands both had two players dismissed against each other in the 2006 round of 16
